The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-05-19
AMONG THE GYPSlES.
A Time OF Day When They Give Then
selves Up to Unrestrained Endowment.

| A Time OF Day When They Give Them
| selves Up to UnreStrained Enjoyment.
| Probably at meals and in the long
evenings, bright with camp-fires and
melodiOus with merriment, is the Gypsy
man or woman most truly this good
natured and genial animal that never
reveals meanness and ever acts with
genuine. unstudied goodness. The
breakfast. though always a meal of
CHEEKY brightness, is taken with little
jollity. for the duties and doings of the
day are ahead of them all. The dinner
is seldom regular meal, for there are
but few in camp, and the old men, old
women, children and dogs have every
| thing their own way. But the supper
is overflowing with good things and
good spirits, and all sorts of pranks are
allowable. The camp has suddenly
| filled up with three-fourths of its men,
bers, who have been away during the
day on divers expeditions, and the
breeziness and activity consequent upon
the return have brought the camp
wonderful life and vigor. The substan-
tials for the meal have been Sizing
and simmering from the kettle-sticks
for hours. These are all accounted
for; but there is an element of
pleasure and surprise in many lit
tie garnishments which find their way
into camp with the incoming troop of
Gypses. The enthusiastically rubber
blankets with linen spreads upon them
are laid upon the clean grass plats;
every body helps at bringing the dishes
and food; laughter and badinage 90
hand in hand with preparation; and the
repast itself, be it sumptuous, as it
often is, or meager, as it is not often, is
washed down by more genuine mirth
and hearty merriment-and, l must
confess, with something thought
stronger, sOmetimes-thanf falls to the lot
of but few in this world, however much
good fortune enters into their condition.
If stragglerS from town come and
stare ut them with eXasperating calm
ness. as though the Gypsies were ami
mails in some geological garden, a
sudden hush falls upon the feast until
the intruders retire, or the merriment
goes on in their own tongue and under
faces of ridiculous solemnity. From the
return. however, until the long. slowly
taken meal is ended, there are such
rallyings of friends. such greetings of
husbands and wives, brothers and
sisters, parents and children, such
kindly notice of the old, old folk, such
revelry with babies, and such proud,
glad heart-word for every body, thatno
earnest eyes can look upon it all and not
moisten, because all this is so true of an
Outcast race, and so barren and meager
in the homes of our own people, where
too often insincerity, ambition and
heartlessness have taken the place of
those tender things which are the saliva
ton of land through its homes.
Then the eventime grows and glows
again with this good nature. There is
not another care or thought-weight on
the Gypsy's mind. All give themselves
up to unrestrained enjoyment. The
great fires are piled high, and seem to
crackle and sing an added accompani-
ment of happiness. High up along the
tree-trunks are hung cressets filled with
faring knots. The fires below shut
out even the light of the blazing stars
above, and draw the night and dark.
lovingly interlaced with century-old
tree-arms, over the bright place like a
protecting canopy. By this campfire
is a crowd merrily playing at cards,
which the Gypsies love. By another
and another are groups telling old tales
or singing old songs. In between and
all about are happy children playing at
hide-and-seek in the flash and shadow
of the camp. Over there are score of |
tawny forms dancing with the freedom
and gayety of lads and lasses to the
music of some tinker violinist who
sways and weaves and stamps and
enraptured by his own vocifcrous
melodies. Everywhere are simple
hearted peace and content.-EdgGr L.
Wakenldn, IN Chicago NeUS.